Revenge

Chapter 24

After a sleepless night, George found himself alone on Dream's couch. He waited until he heard the shower start up to pull his phone out of the pocket of his sweatpants, and Dream's words bounced around in his mind as he pulled up Technoblade's number.

"I'm trusting you, George."

He closed his eyes as he held the phone against his ear, listening to the muffled ringing as his heart beat hard in his chest. After what felt like a lifetime, Technoblade finally answered, "George, finally ready to give me an answer?"

George blew out a slow breath, tensing as the words fell past his lips, "screw you, Techno. I'm not doing it."

He was surprised when he was greeted with laughter, and his brow furrowed as Technoblade responded, "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You've always been incredibly selfish, even when we were children."

"I'm not selfish," George spoke the words, but he didn't fully believe them. Most of his actions up until now had been the very definition of selfish, and his recent good behavior couldn't erase any of that. He told himself that Technoblade was only trying to manipulate him again, but his heart rate was growing quicker with each passing second.

"We both know you are," Technoblade answered, "I'm offering you a simple solution, your life in exchange for the lives of all your friends. And yet you're choosing yourself over them."

George squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head as if he could ward off Technoblade's words. They were sharp and meant to cut deeply, and they were doing exactly that.

"I'll tell you what, George," the sudden shift in Technoblade's tone made George's eyes snap open, hand tensing around his phone as he listened closely, "I'm going to make this even easier for you. Either you show up, or I kill your friends one by one. Don't forget that I have one of them right here with me. I'll start with him."

"Karl," George breathed out the words, "don't touch him, Techno."

As if he hadn't even heard George speak, Technoblade continued, "actually, I'll go visit him right now."

George stood from the couch as he grit out the words, "stop it, Technoblade."

He listened to the sound of Technoblade moving, breath catching in his lungs when he heard a door push open and Karl's muffled voice speaking in worried, pleading tones.

"I just want you to know that I'm serious this time, George," Technoblade said.

Before George could even think of a coherent response, Karl's pained screams were coming over the line.

"Stop," George pleaded, "stop it, Techno. I get it, just leave him alone."

"I have no problem killing Karl," Technoblade said in a low voice, "just remember that, George."

With his eyes squeezed shut again, George quietly asked, "can I talk to him?"

Technoblade didn't answer, but suddenly Karl's voice was flooding the line. He sounded confused and scared as he quietly asked, "George? Is that you?"

"Karl," George answered quickly, sinking back down onto the couch and holding the phone with both hands, "Karl it's me, yeah. I'm so sorry, Karl. We're gonna get you out of there, okay?"

"Just hurry," Karl whispered back, and George could hear the tears behind his words, "and tell Sapnap that-"

His words were abruptly cut off, and George's heart sank when Technoblade's voice replaced Karl's, "you have until tomorrow night, George. Show up at exactly 8 pm, or Karl is as good as dead."

The line went dead, and George's phone slipped from his hand. He heard it clatter to the floor, but he made no moves to pick it up. He rose from the couch, silently fighting with himself about what he was supposed to do.